Archive for April, 2008

We’re playing this “game” in my supply chain selective class. Teams of three assume one of two roles: supplier or reseller of computers. And all was well until the fourth quarter, when a reseller in my team’s game snapped up most of the available supply in the market. This, of course, left three resellers hanging out to dry.

All is not well in the marketplace. There is talk of collusion against the market leader. But this doesn’t make sense, given the fact that the market leader captures over 70 percent of the market! No collusion will awaken the sleeping giant (or even bother it).

Personally, it’s just a game, and my life will continue. But the way some people are carrying on, life as a reseller is over…all over. But hey, at least the suppliers are doing well.

And the point of this random tale is this: every day I head out into rush-hour DC-metropolitan area traffic to get to class. Unsurprisingly about 75 percent of the time, I get stuck behind someone in the left lane on I-270 or I-495. I was always taught the left lane was for passing; the other lanes are for cruising.

About 50 percent of this 75 percent of the time (37.5 percent, I suppose), I pass this person patiently. I have learned not to tailgate, not because I’ve been in an accident because of it, but it just isn’t worth it. Someomes, when I pass this person, I’m tempted to do the glance-over-glare, but I never do. I don’t believe in driving aggression, although I do believe in muttering angrily to myself and being frustrated alone, in my car.

And a part of me dies every time I pass that person, and he or she is on her cell phone.
But a bigger part of me dies every time I pass that person and the driver is an Asian woman.

I mean, come on, aren’t there enough stereotypes about how Asian women are the worst drivers? Do you really have to compound the situation for us Asian women who are decent drives? Is it really necessary?

Yesterday I went on a beer run for Net Impact’s “Cases N Beer” discussion. And I realized two interesting things, which I’ll share with you, my ever-captivated (or, captive) audience:

1) Once a planner, always a planner

I had this conversation with my mom today. I’ve been able to categorize people into three groups, and this theory of mine seems to have held up. Let’s see if I can turn it into a sociological theory.

People who plan and do everything without complaining

People who do nothing, but complain about everything

People who do some things while simultaneously complaining

I’ve been a planner my entire life. And my mom definitely fits into the first category – she plans everything and does everything. Of course, she’s human, and there is a little complaining, but that’s okay. 🙂 And I’d like to think I’m more of category 1, but I’m probably a hybrid of 1 and 3. But hey – who’s perfect?

2) A big difference between undergrad and grad school

Last week I went on a beer run for “Cases N Beer,” where attendees discussed a case involving Yahoo! in China with Professor Lele. I’m on the executive board of Net Impact, a non-profit organization that seeks to combine business practices with corporate social responsibility and sustainability to benefit the community/world. I’m not exactly a granola-loving, tree-hugging type, but I guess I do think corporations should be aware of these issues. Anyway – I bought beer and carted it to school for the event. And at the end, the remaining beer was transported to the courtyard for happy hour. While walking behind my cooler-carrying classmates, I realized the difference between undergrad and grad school: alcohol.

As an undergrad, I never would’ve imagined we’d be free to have beer at a club event, or discuss business practices with professors and classmates over a couple brews.

Spring break has come and gone – with the MBA bonus. The quarter-long two-credit classes ended right before spring break, and the next quarter didn’t begin until a week after the break…so that meant a lovely nearly two-week-long relaxation period. I didn’t take full advantage of it – traveled very little – but had a good time sleeping in until noon and hitting the gym. And now, we’re in the midst of the fourth quarter. My classes have switched over to operations management, strategic management, global supply chain management (selective), and the ever-present ethics class.

When I fly with a carry-on, part of me worries cabin storage space will be full by the time I get on. Then I’ll have no choice but to check my bag at the gate, defeating the purpose of having a carry-on (to save time). And this internal tug-of-war begins. My sensible side tells me it’s not really that big of a deal. I don’t have anywhere important to go. My semi-efficient MBA mind tells me it is a huge deal. If only people would follow the rules set into place, flying would be quicker and cheaper.

Then the inevitable woman with a roll-along carry-on bag, a huge tote bag as a purse, and a laptop bag gets on the plane. Technically, aren’t you limited to one carry-on of limited size and a smaller bag? I think you can get away with a roll-on to store in the overhead bins, and a messenger bag or backpack to store under the seat in front of you. And that’s it. But the inevitable woman always has that massive tote bag the size of Texas.

When I got home after a casual trip to Austin for a wedding, a random link in my Gmail popped up — in some large publication, about the carry-on fight. How convenient, at least, if you ignore how Google can be creepily like Big Brother watching over your shoulder sometimes.

Who knows, maybe when I’m done at Smith, I’ll become the inevitable woman with three carry-ons with one carry-on that really is my purse.

It’s a busy few days – leaving for Dallas for the NIRSA collegiate sport club national championships on Wednesday. All my professors were great about my absences – I just have to turn in assignments and answer case questions for participation in class before I go.

I still owe a spring break recap, but I can do it quickly here: did nothing, it was great. 🙂 I promise to write about that in a week or so when I get back.

Robert H. Smith School of Business

The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 13 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and part-time MBA, executive MBA, MS, PhD, and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia. Find out more at http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu